Richard Eaton Singers

The Richard Eaton Singers is a symphonic chorus in Edmonton, Alberta. There are 150 members in the choir, which frequently performs with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and is at home in the Francis Winspear Centre for Music. The choir has commissioned and premiered new works by Canadian composers. RES has toured Canada and Europe.

Richard Eaton Singers
Choir
OriginEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Founded1951 (1951)
FounderRichard Eaton
Chief conductorLeonard Ratzlaff
Websiterichardeatonsingers.com

History

The University Singers chorus was founded in 1951 by Richard Eaton, the first Chair of the Department of Music at the University of Alberta.[1] In 1969, after the Eaton's death, the choir voted to rename the group after its founder.[2][3]

Richard Eaton conducted the Chorus until 1967, and was succeeded by Alexandra Munn (1967–1973) and Larry Cook (1973–1981), both U of A faculty members.[4]

The choir has completed a number of tours in Canada; in 1970 the choir performed several concerts in England,[5] and in 1987 they traveled to The Hague.[6]

In the 1980s the RES conducted evening concerts at Edmonton's All Saints Cathedral.[7][4]

RES is currently conducted by Leonard Ratzlaff, a 30-year member of the RES in 2011.[8]

References
  1. "Richard Eaton Singers brought music to the people". University of Alberta website, by Tom Murray, June 1, 2001
  2. Margaret C. Matheson (2001). A Passion for Music: A Biography of Richard S. Eaton. Spotted Cow Press. pp. 274–. ISBN 978-0-9688977-0-6.
  3. Clifford Ford (1982). Canada's music: an historical survey. GLC Publishers. p. 213.
  4. Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota. G. Banta Publishing Company. 1978. p. 19.
  5. Donald F. Forster (1971). Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs. University of Toronto Press. p. 562.
  6. "Richard Eaton Singers". The Canadian Encyclopedia, Allison Kydd, Brian Harris 02/07/2006
  7. Phillip Buckner; R. Douglas Francis (1 November 2011). Canada and the British World: Culture, Migration, and Identity. UBC Press. pp. 331–. ISBN 978-0-7748-4031-6.
  8. Ellen Schoeck (1 October 2006). I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories about the University of Alberta, 1906–2006. University of Alberta. pp. 278–. ISBN 978-0-88864-855-6.
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